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The Billionaire’s Flash Marriage: Baby I’m Sorry - Chapter 19



Chapter 19


After a passionate kiss, Kane held Lani for a while before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower. He then descended to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Although Lani wanted to lend a hand in the kitchen, the sweet memory of the lingering kiss and the intimate atmosphere from moments ago made her shy.

She sat on the sofa, pretending to be at ease while watching a movie. "Let's eat," Kane announced.

While Lani was engrossed in the TV, Kane suddenly appeared from behind, wrapping his arms around her. His warm breath, carrying a faint scent of mint, enveloped Lani, creating a familiar and pleasant aroma.

"Do you need me to carry you?" Kane whispered into Lani's ear, causing her face to blush rapidly. Lani's response was hesitant, reflecting the inner turmoil she was experiencing.

"No, it's not necessary. I can manage on my own," Lani stammered.

Despite sensing Lani's hesitation, Kane playfully teased her. Without warning, he scooped her up and carried her towards the kitchen, each step echoing the direction of their budding romance.

"But I like carrying you. You're a princess, and princesses deserve to be pampered," Kane remarked.

Lani's face turned as red as a tomato. Even after they finished eating, her cheeks retained a rosy hue, adding to her beauty.

Unable to resist, Kane approached and gently stroked Lani's cheek, his affectionate touch lingering.

Later in the evening, as Kane was arranging the dishes and loading the dishwasher, Lani's phone suddenly rang. It was Aurora calling.

Without thought, Lani answered the call, instantly recognizing the familiar voice. "Lani, want to go to a bar? There's a new one in the city center, and it's said to be lively."

Aurora, often dubbed the "bar queen," frequented bars whenever she had free time. Fortunately, Aurora's boyfriend was easygoing and didn't mind Lani joining, understanding that it was her way of relieving stress in life.

Lani hesitated, glancing at Kane. She wanted to spend the weekend with him to nurture their relationship. However, before she could decline, Aurora sighed.

"Come have a drink with me. My boyfriend cheated, and we've broken up," Aurora shared. "Let's hit the bar and celebrate the single life, okay?"

Shocked by the news, Lani quickly agreed, suggesting they could go immediately. Aurora sent the address and promised to pick up Lani. After the call, Lani rushed into the kitchen to find Kane.

"Kane, my best friend Aurora just went through a breakup. I need to go to the bar with her for some emotional support," she explained.

Kane nodded, reminding Lani to drink moderately and to call him when she needed a ride back. Lani agreed and hurriedly went upstairs to change into a black dress, applying light makeup. She added a coat and descended the stairs. Just as she was ready, her phone rang; it was Aurora, who had just arrived.

Lani bid farewell to Kane and quickly headed outside. As soon as she stepped into the car, she asked Aurora about the situation.

"Are you okay? Do you need some time off to adjust your mood?" Lani asked with concern as they drove.

Aurora chuckled, perhaps recalling unpleasant memories, and her mood gradually darkened. She calmly spoke while driving, "Why would I need time off because of that jerk? I can go back to work as usual tomorrow."

Lani couldn't shake off her worry, continuing to ask, "So, what exactly happened? Why did you and Mark break up?"

Aurora kept her eyes on the road, her face unchanged, speaking indifferently, "Well, he said he was bored with me and felt our love wasn't passionate anymore. I work all day, and he feels there's no time for him."

"But, you know, I found out later that he's interested in pursuing a rich girl, the daughter of a CEO. Probably wanted to quickly break up with me to become the son-in-law of a wealthy family—disgusting."

Lani listened seriously and sighed, "Consider this a stroke of luck. You can see the ugly face of that man. He's not worth making you sad or cry."

Aurora just laughed without responding. They had reached the bar and entered a small private room. Aurora wasted no time and began pouring drinks for both herself and Lani.

"Drink up. Let's celebrate my escape from that awful man," Aurora cheered, her laughter sounding hearty, but Lani knew discomfort beneath the surface. Lani and Aurora went from one glass of wine to another.

As the alcohol took effect, Aurora became much more candid.

"We've been in love for three years. I even thought that if our feelings continued to be as sweet as this, I would introduce him to my parents to discuss marriage next year."

"Never expected it would end up like this," she continued.

Aurora lowered her head to the table, her voice becoming increasingly emotional. Despite three years of deep love between her and Mark, the sudden and unexpected end, especially for such reasons, left Aurora feeling suffocated.

"It's okay. You've advised me before. After encountering a lousy guy, you learn to see people better, and in the future, you'll find someone even better."

"Mark doesn't deserve to be with a good girl like you," Lani added.

After a moment, Aurora slowly lifted her head, her eyes glistening with tears, and her voice choked with emotion.

"Really?"

Lani nodded firmly.

"That's right. I know a lot of celebrities. If you want, I can introduce you to some. Handsome, talented, wealthy—much better than Mark."

"So, you don't have to miss out on someone better just because of that cheap guy, Mark."

These words seemed genuinely comforting to Aurora, who fell into deep thought. Lani gently embraced her, patting her shoulder softly, her voice slightly hoarse from the alcohol.

"Tomorrow, I'll find a few good men for you to date, okay? I'll make a list for you to choose from, okay?"

Aurora nodded contentedly, also hugging Lani, her voice choked with emotion.

"Alright. Lani, you're the best friend in the world. I love you the most."

"Let's have a bit more to drink. After a few drinks, I'm feeling so much better, haha."

Aurora continued to pour more drinks, and she and Lani took a glass each.

"Now, I truly feel how comfortable the single life is. Before, when I went out for a drink, I always had to rush back early to be with Mark. Now, no one is controlling me anymore."

"I can stay here until tomorrow morning if I want," Aurora mumbled softly, her hand still pouring more wine, gradually losing her sobriety. Her gaze wandered, and she staggered to grab another bottle and place it on the table.

"Want to keep drinking?" she asked.

By now, Lani was also quite intoxicated. With a lazy nod, she glanced at Aurora, feeling dizzy, and then lazily leaned back on the sofa.

After two more glasses of wine, Lani's phone rang, and the two looked at each other in a blurry state. 

Lani sluggishly searched for her phone in her bag, squinting to see the screen. It wasn't until the ringing almost stopped that she managed to retrieve her phone and answered with a muffled voice.

"Lani, should I come pick you up?" Kane's voice came through, warm and gentle. Somehow, Lani had accidentally turned on the speakerphone at some point, and his voice resonated throughout the room. Aurora was resting her head on the sofa, heard Kane's voice, and responded with disdain.

"Is it a man, Lani? Don't talk to men; they're all no good."

Lani, in her intoxicated state, agreed with the sentiment and responded vaguely, "Yes, they're all terrible. No need for him to pick me up."

After saying this, she promptly hung up.

"..."

Kane heard the hoarse tone and the unusual conversation and guessed that Lani and Aurora had been drinking. He quickly stood up, put on his coat, grabbed his car keys, and hurried to pick up Lani. 

Fortunately, before she left, he had asked for the address. Given Lani's current level of inebriation, she might not even know where she was.

 




Chapter 20


When Kane arrived, he found Lani and Aurora sitting in a corner surrounded by scattered wine bottles. The two were talking and laughing.


He overheard Aurora teasingly saying, "Men are all scoundrels, Lani. That guy who called you earlier must be a scoundrel. Block his phone number later."


Lani nodded, seeming to be intoxicated and only giggling.


"That's right, there's no good man out there. They're all either stupid or cheaters."


Kane hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to approach or not. After a few seconds of indecision, he helplessly walked over to Lani, gently supporting her against his shoulder and tenderly stroking her hair.


"Lani, let's go home; it's getting late," he suggested softly.


Lani blinked, tilting her head to look at Kane with curiosity. "Who are you? Do we know each other?"


Kane sighed in frustration, carefully holding Lani tighter as she was about to fall onto the sofa, explaining, "Yes, we're very close. I'm your husband, and I've come to take you home."


At this moment, Aurora, still slouched nearby, slowly raised her head, squinting at Kane, and then tearfully shouted to Lani, "Lani, don't go with him. I told you, all men are the same."


Perhaps the effects of alcohol had dulled Lani's ability to think clearly. She hastily pushed Kane away and coldly said, "That's right, I don't have a husband. Stay away from me."


Kane once again held Lani firmly to prevent her from pulling away. He was unsure what to do when his secretary, Ryan, walked in. Kane sighed in relief, carefully cradling Lani, and soothingly spoke to Ryan.


"Help me take Lani's friend to a five-star hotel. I don't know where she lives," Kane requested.


Ryan nodded, surprised to be called by Kane for assistance in the middle of the night. However, the overtime pay was generous, so he happily put on his coat to go out and help his boss.


Taking care of Lani alone had already made Kane feel quite helpless. Having her friend around could potentially make things chaotic in the house. 


Additionally, he wasn't adept at caring for someone who was intoxicated.


After finishing the conversation with Kane, Ryan bent down to assist Aurora on the sofa, lowering his voice.


"Hey, it's late now. Let me book a hotel room for you to rest, okay? Drinking too much isn't good for your health."


Aurora, disturbed from her rest, opened her eyes, visibly annoyed. She blinked a few times, trying to focus on the man beside her. Once she saw Ryan's face, she smiled charmingly.


"You're handsome. How about having a drink with me?"


Ryan had expected Aurora to react with the same hostility Kane had received earlier, but her demeanor was surprisingly gentle and cooperative.


Of course, it would be better if she refrained from speaking nonsense.


"Hey, what's your name? Do you have a girlfriend?" she asked with a teasing tone.


"I think you're very handsome. Would you like to be my new boyfriend?"


"Why aren't you answering? You're rude."


"Hey, if you help me up, you have to take responsibility, okay?"


With gritted teeth, Ryan lifted Aurora to her feet, grabbed her bag, bid farewell to Kane, and smoothly exited the room. It was the first time he had encountered someone who could talk so much while intoxicated.


Kane watched the peculiar interaction between Aurora and Ryan for a moment before focusing on taking care of Lani.


"Lani, let's go home, okay? Let's go home and get some rest; you're tired," Kane gently suggested.


Having continuously reassured and demonstrated that he was Lani's husband, there was no longer resistance from her. Lani blinked, tilting her head to look at Kane from within his embrace, and dreamily asked a vague question.


"You're my husband?" Kane helplessly confirmed. At this moment, it seemed like Lani had just processed all of Kane's words from tonight. She embraced Kane, using her alcohol-tinged voice to say, "I'll believe it when you kiss me. My husband's kisses are so sweet."


Kane blushed slightly, suddenly feeling awkward in the face of Lani's candid words. Perhaps dissatisfied with Kane's hesitancy, Lani leaned in for a kiss. Due to her inebriation, the kiss landed slightly off, brushing against Kane's chin.


Unable to resist longer, Kane held Lani's chin and passionately kissed her. The kiss was fiery, gradually stealing the sweet breath that still carried traces of Lani's alcohol.


After the kiss, Lani bit her lip, resting her head on Kane's shoulder, murmuring, "Yes, very sweet. You are my husband. Now, take me home."


Kane chuckled at this childlike thought and carefully lifted Lani, carrying her out of the bar.


When they arrived home, Kane carried Lani to bed and prepared a glass of honey lemon water to ease her discomfort. Initially resistant, Lani only obediently drank the water after Kane kissed her a few times. Afterward, Kane tucked her into bed, and the tranquility returned to the space.


The next day, Lani woke up feeling a headache and a sore throat. She slowly opened her eyes, blinked a few times, and immediately saw Kane sitting beside her, attentively watching her.


"Awake, Lani? Feeling uncomfortable anywhere?" Kane asked, placing his hand on her forehead.


After the night of drinking, Lani couldn't recall what had happened. Her memories only stretched as far as her and Aurora continuously consuming drinks at the bar. She pursed her lips and asked Kane, "How did I get home yesterday? Did you come to pick me up?"


Lani's gaze was a mix of confusion and innocence, resembling a small, harmless rabbit. Kane nodded and inquired, "You don't remember anything from yesterday?"


Lani hesitantly nodded; indeed, she couldn't recall when Kane came to pick her up or when she arrived home.


Kane chuckled, his laughter carrying a seductive charm, and his husky voice sent electric waves through Lani.


"Do you want me to help you remember what happened yesterday?" Kane asked, and Lani quickly nodded. In an instant, Kane turned, pressing himself onto Lani.


He grasped her hands, placing them above her head, and leaned down to initiate a deep kiss.


Even in the early morning, Kane's kiss was incredibly intense, sucking on Lani's lips until she felt a tingling sensation. Lani accepted the kiss, surrounded by the sound of tender affection. The minty fragrance that lingered on Kane's clothes intensified the experience.


After the kiss, Lani's lips were tender and redder than usual. Kane, entranced, gently caressed her lips. Lani regained her senses and pouted, "You said you were going to help me remember what happened yesterday. Why did you kiss me?"


Kane burst into laughter, embracing Lani in his arms, his voice a bit hoarse.


"Yesterday, you were drunk, constantly hugging my neck and demanding kisses. I refused to kiss you, and you even started cuddling and crying," 


Kane spoke sincerely, his gaze serious, making Lani believe him. She rolled her eyes and responded when Kane continued, "I got kissed until my lips swelled, and you're still not satisfied. Now I have to demand compensation."


Without waiting for Lani to say anything, Kane leaned in to kiss her again, his tongue intertwining with hers, both becoming immersed in the intoxicating kiss.


 



Chapter 21


Lani was kissed into a blissful daze, only recalling the need to call Aurora when Kane got out of bed to prepare a fresh breakfast. Aurora's voice on the other end quickly picked up, its tone light and cheerful as if yesterday's tears and pain were mere illusions.


"Awake now, Lani? Anything bothering you?"


Lani hesitated before responding, still a bit bashful.


"And how about you? Are you feeling more relaxed today?"


"Want to go shopping to lift your spirits? Go ahead, I'll foot the bill."


Lani spoke generously, eliciting a laugh from Aurora. She shook her head, showcasing an adept ability to regulate Aurora's emotions. After a day, the atmosphere had become much more comfortable.


"No need. Stay at home and nurture the bond with your husband."


"Oh, right. Yesterday, besides Kane, did anyone come to pick us up? I vaguely remember being brought home by a very handsome man, helping with hotel reservations, even carefully covering me with a blanket.."


As Aurora voiced these thoughts, she wasn't entirely sure. In her intoxicated state, distinguishing between reality and dream became challenging. It remained unclear whether a handsome man had escorted her home or if it was a figment of her imagination.


Not to mention, no one was around when Aurora woke up in the hotel today. Upon hearing the question, Lani was unsure of how to respond.


Although Aurora still had vague memories of the events from last night, she had already forgotten everything.


"Wait a moment, let me ask Kane to help you. I barely remember anything from last night."


As Lani was about to hang up to inquire with Kane, she heard Aurora hastily interject.


"Hey, ask Kane if he's still single. He's handsome, considerate, and kind— the perfect boyfriend material. I can say it for sure."


"Didn't you say you'd introduce me to someone better than Mark? Choose him. The best way to completely forget about an ex is to love someone even better."


Lani felt a bit apprehensive listening to this. Aurora's ability to regulate emotions was extraordinary.


After just one day, not only had Aurora completely forgotten the heartbreak of parting with Mark, but she was already prepared to embrace a new boyfriend.


Lani responded and then hung up, marveling how skilled her friend was at moving on.


Placing the phone on the bed, Lani descended the stairs and went to the kitchen. From behind, she embraced Kane and inquired, "Kane, I want to ask you about something from yesterday."


Kane's eyes sparkled as he quickly set down the glass of milk he was pouring to wrap his arms around Lani. He deliberately lowered his voice, creating an intimate atmosphere.


"What do you want to ask? Need me to kiss you again to jog your memory?’’


Blushing, Lani pushed away from Kane, pouting.


"Don't always think about those things. I want to talk seriously with you."


Kane embraced Lani, lifting her chin to meet his gaze, a playful curve on his lips.


"Have I ever not been serious? Tell me."


Biting her lip, Lani couldn't retort. Playfully, she lightly punched Kane's shoulder in frustration before continuing.


"Yesterday, did you come with me to pick up Aurora and me? Aurora mentioned seeing a handsome man bringing her home, but she was not sure if it was true."


Of course, Kane wouldn't reveal to Lani that Ryan was his secretary, as it would be akin to exposing his true identity. Nevertheless, he nodded and spoke smoothly, "Yes, I was afraid I couldn't look after two women alone, so I asked my friend to bring your friend home."


Lani's eyes sparkled, and she quickly asked, "What does your friend do? Does he have a girlfriend? Is he a good person? Can Aurora contact him?"


Kane pinched Lani's cheek, feigning annoyance. 


"Don't use that excited look to interrogate me about another man. His name is Ryan. He is an executive secretary of a fairly large company. Just broke up with his girlfriend a month ago, currently single."


"He's a good person, diligent, gentle, and loyal in love. I'll send you his contact information later."


"However, I must warn you that Ryan's work is hectic, so he doesn't have much time for a girlfriend. His previous girlfriend also broke up with him for that reason."


"Now he's fully focused on his career. So, I'm not sure if Aurora can successfully pursue him."


Lani blinked, suddenly feeling a sense of coincidence in everything. "This statement is what Aurora's ex-boyfriend complained about her. Aurora is also a typical workaholic, so in some ways, Aurora and Ryan seem like a perfect match, don't they?"


Kane chuckled at Lani's train of thought and nodded. After receiving Ryan's contact information, Lani happily sent it to Aurora, playfully reminding her of Kane's words.


Aurora quickly responded with a voice chat, and as soon as Lani pressed play, she heard an excited, teasing female voice. "Haha, Lani, don't worry. There's no man in this world that Aurora can't charm. Just wait. Within a month, I at least have to share a deep kiss with him."


Since Lani had the speaker on, Kane was standing nearby. He also heard it very clearly. Lani suddenly blushed, feeling embarrassed on behalf of Aurora, and reluctantly explained.


"Oh, normally, Aurora is quite composed. I guess the shock of the breakup might have overwhelmed her emotions."


"Trust me, it could also be because she's still not sober from the alcohol, so she's just talking nonsense."


After speaking, Lani involuntarily licked her lips and lowered her head, and her words became increasingly faint, making them less credible. Kane tried to suppress the urge to laugh, nodded in understanding, and comforted Lani, "I know. I believe your friend is not that kind of person."


As Lani was about to continue, she heard Kane add, "People often say and do unusual things when they're not sober. Yesterday, you kissed me for half an hour under the influence. Do you remember that?"


Lani remained silent.


Aurora's words had taken an awkward turn. Why did it become her issue? Lani bit her lip, glared at Kane, stamped her foot, and walked out. She decided not to reply to Aurora's messages anymore.


Because of Aurora, she was just personally attacked by Kane, so she resolved to ignore Aurora for at least an hour.


A few days later, Aurora proved true to her words and vigorously pursued Ryan. Every day, she persistently texted and initiated conversations with Ryan, often using the excuse of wanting to thank him for escorting them to the hotel to invite him for meals.


Lani heard Aurora's tales of this love pursuit every day and had grown accustomed to Aurora's complaints.


"Ryan is such a cold and boring person. I've made lunch appointments with him multiple times, and he always uses work as an excuse, claiming he has to stay late."


"If he wasn't pretending to be busy to reject me, then his boss must be a dictator, giving him an enormous workload."


Aurora didn't know how to comfort Lani, so they both lay on the sofa cursing Ryan's boss.


"Who knows, maybe his boss assigns lots of tasks to Ryan. Being a secretary comes with a heavy workload, and having a boss too demanding will surely make him too busy for lunch."


Feeling somewhat comforted, Aurora began to speak.


"Right, Ryan's boss must be awful, like bosses in movies. When the company has a new project, they force all employees to work overtime, making everyone detestable."


Kane, who had just finished cooking dinner and wanted to call Lani to eat, stiffened upon hearing these words, feeling unfairly scolded. After Lani hung up, Kane approached, leaning his head on Lani's shoulder, gently speaking.


"Let's eat, Lani. Tomorrow, you have to go film the game show."


 



Chapter 22


Lani placed her phone on the sofa and went with Kane towards the dining area, where they shared a nutritionally rich dinner that Kane had prepared. Thinking about meeting Amory and Hebe tomorrow, she sighed.


"I shouldn't have agreed to participate in this program in the first place."


Kane chuckled softly in consolation. "It's okay; there's only one more episode tomorrow. When 


you come back, can I make garlic butter lobster?"


Thinking about delicious food made Lani's mood improve considerably, nodding continuously. After finishing their meal, Kane cleared the dishes and went upstairs, quickly calling Ryan.


"This week, your workload will be reduced


by half. If you want to meet or have lunch with someone, just let me know, and I'll let you leave early."


Ryan couldn't understand why his boss was suddenly so generous, but he felt grateful and took a while to express his thanks.


After hanging up, Kane believed that Aurora's problem had been resolved. And, there would be no more complaints from her about Ryan's boss or himself.


Comfortably settling down in their bedroom, Kane and Lani watched an episode of a TV show. By the time the clock struck 10, they went to bed early.


When Lani woke up the next day, she felt particularly at ease. After brushing her teeth, she returned to bed, gently kissed Kane on the forehead, and bid him goodbye before heading to the dressing room to change into an elegant white dress.


When Lani left the house, Aurora was already seated in the waiting car, handing Lani a warm sandwich and humming a few lines of a song.


"What's going on? Is something exciting happening?"


Aurora grinned, her eyes filled with unmistakable joy.


"Ryan agreed to have lunch with me tomorrow. He said his boss reduced his workload by half for the week, so he's not too busy anymore."


"I take back all the curses I said about his boss earlier. He's the best boss in the world, kind and generous."


Lani smiled while eating her sandwich, genuinely happy about the blossoming romance in Aurora's life.


"But this time, are you serious about Ryan? It's not just because the breakup with Mark shocked you to the point where you want to let go of yourself and find a new boyfriend quickly to avoid loneliness, right?"


Aurora immediately tilted her head, glaring at Lani with a warning look.


"Don't think of me that way. I am serious about pursuing Ryan. It's true love."


"At first, I was just curious about how handsome Ryan's face was to make such an impression on me after waking up. But after interacting and talking for a week, I was immediately attracted to his good personality."


"I've decided. I am very serious about pursuing Ryan."


Lani shrugged, not commenting further, just wishing Aurora success. After all, Aurora forgot about Mark, and being with someone better was a good thing.


Kane also assured her that Ryan was a good boyfriend, and she believed Kane's assessment.


When the two arrived at the shooting location and finished their makeup, all the guests had gathered. 


Amory and Hebe were still sitting next to each other, but this time, Lani paid no attention to them and went directly to sit beside Kazuma.


Today's first segment of the game show was a fan interaction, where the host would ask questions to each guest. The first person was Amory.


"Amory, there's a comment saying that your relationship with Hebe is good, and your interaction is sweet. Are you each other's first love?"


Amory's eyes seemed to flicker over Lani before responding.


"No, I've had four past relationships. My most recent ex-girlfriend is also in the entertainment industry. We broke up due to differences in opinions. She was greedy, jealous, and always wanted to control, making my life very stifling. So, I decided to break up."


Lani almost burst into laughter after hearing this. After a breakup, he resorted to badmouthing his ex-girlfriend — Amory proved to be the lowest of the low.


However, the source of Lani's annoyance was not over yet because the one to answer the question next was Hebe.


"I heard you and Lani are half-sisters with the same father but different mothers. So, is your relationship harmonious?"


Hebe pretended to look fearful as she glanced at Lani and then stammered out, "Very, very good. Sister Lani dotes on me and cares for me a lot. We're very close."


Hebe said this with a timid and trembling voice, and after she finished, she even seemed slightly shaky, looking quite pitiful. Lani curved her lips into a smile, knowing without guessing that the commentary on this show was condemning her for bullying Hebe.


However, in the subsequent responses from others, those who weren't asked had to remain silent. Lani sat in her place, seriously thinking about how to deal with these rumors later.


Just this morning, she had encountered trouble, and her face wasn't looking good. Coincidentally, it seemed to validate Hebe's fabricated story.


When it came to Lani's, Daisy's, and Kazuma's turn, they were asked about their regular career, whether there were upcoming movies or new MVs. Lani casually mentioned a film by Director Lee, vaguely sensing Hebe glancing at her with envy in her eyes.


Afterward, the five of them were assigned to different rooms to complete three challenges for the show. Whoever completed them and obtained the game card first would win. The loser would have to stay on the show to carry out a punishment set by the program's producers.


Challenges for Lani included covering a trendy dance, stacking 20 wooden blocks on top of each other, and finally, jumping high to retrieve a ribbon tied to a small pole. Lani, not particularly agile and with modest height, only managed to complete the fourth challenge. Hebe was the one who lost and had to go to a different room for the penalty, while the remaining four contestants got to leave early.


The morning's activities had worn Lani out, and upon returning home, she skipped lunch to shower and went straight to bed for a nap.


However, just as she closed her eyes for a short rest, Lani received a call from Aurora. She groggily answered, and Aurora's voice sounded urgent and distressed.


"Lani, quickly go online and check. Hebe said terrible things and made up stories about you during the morning's penalty segment. The hot search about you is already ranking second on the trending list now."


Concerned, Lani quickly got up.


She unlocked her phone, swiftly found the trending search, and also located a screen recording of the live broadcast. This morning on the game show, Hebe ended up as the loser and had to carry out a penalty task. The task she drew was to reveal a little-known secret about one of the celebrities participating in the game show that day.


Lani furrowed her brows, sensing an impending unease. Indeed, as she watched on the screen, Hebe pretended to be embarrassed, biting her lip and starting to plead with the staff.


"Can I choose a different task? I only know one secret about Lani, but I promised Lani I would not reveal this."


This head-and-tail game of concealment only heightened the interest of the staff and director, who refused to let Hebe choose another task and insisted on her carrying out the penalty immediately. So, Hebe continued to feign innocence, looking directly into the camera with harmless, reddened eyes.


"Sorry, Lani. It is the punishment of the show, and I have no other choice."


Hebe excelled at feigning innocence and kindness, deceiving quite a few fans. Comments below cheered for Hebe's courage in speaking the truth.


Lani chuckled coldly, dismissing the so-called truth, Hebe was just fabricating negative stories about her.


After that, Lani heard a gentle voice, as soft as the wind chimes.





Chapter 23


"As everyone knows, Lani's acted in a few films before. Whether playing the lead or supporting role, the scripts were quite impressive, helping Lani advance in her career."


"At first, I thought Lani was just lucky or putting in the effort was paid off. Unexpectedly, a few times when filming, I coincidentally saw her entering a hotel with a director."


"I thought they were just discussing the script at the hotel. But from then until now, I've seen Lani with some famous directors entering different hotels, making me a bit suspicious."


Hebe finished speaking, her face already pale, as if feeling guilty for revealing Lani's secret. Lani, visibly shaken, seemed to be trembling with remorse.


"But don't rush to scold Lani. Who knows if I've misunderstood? Regardless, she is very talented, acting exceptionally well in films."


Hebe swallowed hard, her voice getting smaller with each passing moment, her face bowing down in embarrassment.


Lani was furious but couldn't help bursting into laughter. Hebe, indeed, was a skilled actress; with just a few sentences, she successfully framed She. The lack of evidence made fans on hotsearch criticize Lani.


Thanks to Hebe's nonsensical words, Lani's name appeared on hotsearch with the headline, "Actress accepts going to hotels with many celebrities for fame."


At this moment, Aurora called, her tone much calmer than before. She asked Lani, "Have you seen the hot search? How does it feel?"


Lani chuckled softly, tapping lightly on the table and leaning back in her chair. "I've seen it all. It feels both disgusting and nauseating. I didn't expect there would still be shameless people like Hebe in this world.


 


Aurora joined in the laughter but then turned serious. "So, have you thought of a solution? Perhaps reveal evidence that Hebe seduced Amory while you two were still together. Let her fans know how disgusting she is."


"I'll try to contact the directors of the films you starred in before. It might take some time, and you'll have to endure injustice for a while."


"But we can't let Hebe off the hook so easily. If you provide me with the video or recording, I'll hire a well-known blogger or editor to publish an article. I guarantee that within half an hour, news about Hebe replace your current hotsearch."


Lani shook her head; she didn't want to escalate things now.


"Take it slowly. Let Hebe revel in the triumph and pride of tarnishing my image. After she basks in the pleasure of bringing me down, that's when my revenge plan will begin."


"Rest assured, I'm not a gentle person. What Hebe has done, I will make her pay for."


Aurora thought Lani's clear-headedness was excellent and promised to support and assist whenever needed, encouraging Lani to feel free to call. Lani continued to recline on the sofa, casually telling Aurora not to rush to debunk the rumors; she was okay.


It was just a few rumors, and Lani had been criticized before; she wasn't the type to be weak. In the end, both Lani and Aurora weren't overly concerned, even enjoying their time as usual. The most worried person, in the end, turned out to be Kane.


After hearing about the search following an important meeting, Kane hurried back to his room, calling in Ryan to inquire about the smoothest way to handle this situation.


"The best way is to have the directors come forward to clarify the rumors with Lani. If Lani tries to clarify at this point, it will only add chaos and even provoke more criticism," Ryan advised.


Kane narrowed his eyes, his resentment towards Hebe soaring, his hand involuntarily clenched.


"So, follow your plan and resolve things a bit faster. If any director cooperates to clarify and support Lani, invest some money in their new film as a token of gratitude."


Ryan nodded and left Kane's office. As for Kane, he was now envisioning Lani at home, reading the news, feeling both sad and pitiful, hiding in a blanket and silently crying.


At this thought, his heart tightened, and he hastily left his company matters behind, driving home at lightning speed to meet Lani. He believed that now Lani felt vulnerable and needed someone by her side for comfort and reassurance, and he couldn't let Lani be alone.


No work was as important as her.


Kane had barely parked the car when he couldn't wait any longer. Getting out of the car quickly, Kane stormed into the house. He wants to embrace Lani immediately to make her feel less lonely. However, Kane's sympathetic emotions were over when he saw Lani sitting on the sofa.


She was wearing loose pink pajamas, holding a snack package in her left hand, a Coke can in her right, happily watching a movie, eating, and occasionally chuckling.


"..."


"Why did you come back so early?" Lani asked. 


Kane, concealing his astonishment, took a moment before approaching Lani and sitting beside her.


"I checked the hotsearch, those curses, don't keep them in your heart, and don't let them bother you too much. It's okay. No matter what happens, I'll always be by your side.’’


"Do you want a hug?"


Afraid that Lani was putting on a brave front to avoid worrying others, Kane quickly offered reassurance. Lani burst into laughter, watching Kane extend his arms and move. Lani embraced him, her voice carrying a hint of youthful laughter.


"I'm fine. I stopped caring about others' judgments a long time ago."


"I've also found a way to make Hebe Pay the price for mistakes."


Kane carefully rubbed Lani's back, a low, hearty laugh emanating from his chest.


"Yes, you're quite skilled. Those who have hurt you shouldn't get to live happily."


Lani agreed with Kane's words, happily breaking into a smile. Subsequently, she pulled Kane down onto the sofa beside her, and the two embraced each other while watching a movie.


Kane's initial attempt to console Lani didn't materialize as planned, but she seemed remarkably at ease at this moment. Every day with Lani was tranquil and pleasant, and everything seemed strangely peaceful.


After finishing the episode, Kane cooked dinner while Lani lay on the sofa, continuing to watch the remaining episodes.


Recently, most of Lani's time was devoted to watching movies, often lazily lounging on the sofa, feeling that she hadn't been active for a while and might have gained some weight.


With this thought, Lani worriedly rushed into the kitchen to ask Kane, "Kane, have you noticed if I've gained weight recently?"


Kane looked at Lani seriously, scanning her from head to toe. Her figure remained slender, just as it was when they first met, delicate and soft. He shook his head, earnestly rubbing his chin as he responded, "No, I think you still look quite thin."


Lani pursed her lips, not entirely trusting Kane's words. "Recently, you've been cooking for me, so I've been eating more than usual, and without exercise, how can I not gain weight? No, tonight I have to go for a run to get some exercise. 


Tomorrow, I'll schedule a workout with a fitness trainer."


Kane nodded in agreement.


"Sure, after dinner, I'll go running with you."


Lani smirked, seemingly satisfied with Kane's comforting attitude at this moment. She tilted her chin arrogantly before finally joining him for dinner.


After dinner, Lani and Kane sat on the sofa for a while before heading upstairs to change into workout clothes. Lani wore a simple white sportswear set and stepped out of the changing room, coincidentally running into Kane outside the door. He had changed into a black sportswear set, making them look like they were wearing a matching outfit.


"Let's go," Kane grinned, a gentle expression spreading across his face, making him look even more tender. Kane held Lani's hand as they walked forward together, the warmth from Kane's hand making Lani blush even before they started running.


The two of them jogged gently around the house. After completing one round, Kane intentionally slowed to wait for Lani, caring enough to wipe the sweat from her forehead.


"Feeling tired? It's been a while since you've exercised. If you're tired, we can head back home and rest."


Lani felt that Kane was underestimating her stamina, raising an eyebrow as she looked at him, arrogantly lifting her chin and locking eyes with him.


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